Steve Kerr shares honest feelings on Steph Curry and Co.'s frustrating loss in Toronto
Steve Kerr faced the media after the Golden State Warriors’ 104-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday. Despite Steph Curry returning from knee soreness, the Dubs could not beat the hosts, who improved their record to 9-31. Golden State fell to 19-20 to fall below .500 for the first time this season.
When asked about what went wrong postgame, Kerr called it as he saw it:
“Didn’t get good looks. Didn’t execute very well. It’s my fault. I’m the coach of the team. I have to find a way to help this team and I’m not doing a good job of that.
"We’re not executing and that’s happening throughout the game at both ends. Missed rotations, missed coverages on defense and poor possessions offensively, it’s all on me. … This is as frustrating a night as we have all season," he added.
The Warriors shot 35-for-88 (39.8%), including 16-for-46 (34.8%) from deep compared to the Raptors’ 41-for-86, including 12-for-29 in 3-point shooting. Golden State was crushed in points in the paint (50-26) and had fewer assists 28-23) than Toronto.
Kerr also noted the absence of key players but added that it wasn’t an excuse for their poor execution on both ends. Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski sat out in the loss.
The Warriors led 78-75 heading into the fourth quarter but lost, dropping them to 11-13 in games decided by five points or less. Steph Curry and Co. finished the game with an 8-for-11 clip in the final period, but Curry and Buddy Hield missed two crucial shots.
Steve Kerr defends decision to let Buddy Hield shoot potential game-tying 3-pointer over Steph Curry
Everyone in the Warriors-Raptors game knew Steve Kerr would go to Steph Curry for a potential game-tying 3-pointer following a timeout. Kerr took out Dennis Schroder for Buddy Hield as another target for an inbound pass.
Curry played decoy as it was Hield who received the ball. The shooting guard had a good look, but his shot was way short. After the game, Kerr had this to say about his decision to let Hield take the shot:
“I trust him. I put him in the last play because I believe he’ll make the next shot. … I’m gonna keep playing him. I’m gonna keep trusting him.”
Hield shot 41.4% from deep in November but has since struggled. He finished December with a 30.5% clip from outside rainbow distance and improved it slightly to 32.7% this month.
Curry and Co. will be on the road again when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves next at Target Center on Wednesday.